Fastening device for straps, bands, and bracelets



Jli'n'e '12, 1928. 1,673,117

C. H. KESTENMAN FASTENING DEVICE FOR STRAPS, BANDS, AND BRACELETS vFiled Jan. 9, 1928 Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES I 1,673,117 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. IESTENHAN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOB TO KESTEN-IAN BROS. II'G. OO., O]? PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION BHODEFASTENING DEVICE FOR STRAPS, BANDS, AND BRACELETS.

Application filed January 9, 1928. Serial No. 245,405.

This invention relates to improvements in buckleor 'clasp-devices forfastening the ends of wrist-watch straps, bands, bracelets and the like.

6 A principal object of the improvement is to provide an extendiblefastening-device on the strap, band or bracelet which, after the latterhas been adjusted to the proper length to fit the wrist may be releasedand opened 10 out to allow the strap, band or bracelet to be slippedover the hand without unfastene ing its ends.

Another object of the improvement is to rovidea device of the typespecified which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture anddurable in use without liability of the parts becoming broken or gettingout of order.

Another object'of the improvement is to 2 provide a device of the typespecified which is particularly adapted for use with metal straps, bandsor bracelets without requiring a ertures therein for receiving thetongue 0 a buckle or similar fastening means.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a device of the typespecified which is neat in appearance and less bulky and cumbersome thansimilar devices heretofore employed for like pur oses.

Further objects of t e improvement are set forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention asillustrated in the accom panying drawings. In the drawings:

35 Fig. 1 is an edge view of a wrist-watch shown as having a two-partstrap or band attached thereto with its ends connected by the present imroved fastening-device;

Fig. 2 is a p an view of the fastening-de-- 40 vice showing its parts inclosed relation with the opposite strap-ends attached thereto;

Fig. 3 is an enlargedlongitudinal sectional view of the fastening-deviceshowing its parts folded into closed relation; Fig. 4 is a similar viewshowing the device partly opened or unfolded;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device showing its parts in extendedrelation; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged part-sectional view of the cl in -means foradjustably attach- .in one :5 o the strap to the device.

0 present im roved device comprises in general a air 0 coo eratingmembers or plates whi are hingedly connected at their ends to adapt themto be closed into folded relation, one over the other; or to be openedout into extended position to lengthen the drawn tight around the wristwith the clasping means also assuming a folded relation w th respect tothe hinged members; while when the plates are opened out theclasp-member will fold back so that the strap, band or bracelet will belengthened to a considerable extent to adapt it to slip over the hand ofthe wearer. The present improvement relates particularly to thedetent-means for holding the two cooperating folding members or platesin closed relation and to the clasping-means for adjustably attachingone strap-length in accordance with requirements.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 2 designates a conventional type ofwr1stwatch having bails 3 on its sides to which the ends of the oppositestrap-sections 4 and 5 are suitably attached by looping themtherethrough. The strap-section 4 is of the proper length to adapt it toencircle approximately one-half of the wrist, while the otherstrap-section 5 is of somewhat greater lengthto allow for its ad'ustmentand also to provide for extending t e strap when the fastening-device isunfolded.

The present improved extendible fastening-device is herein shown asapplied to use" with a strap or bracelet constructed of reticulatedfabric such as wire mesh, but in other cases it may be employed with aleather strap or a metal band or bracelet, the term strap hereinemployed to designate any such rm of. band or bracelet. The main portionof the device com rises two coo ratin folding members or ates 7 and SWich may be constructed of re atively thin sheet-metal, preferably ofarcuate shape or curved in cross-section to adapt them to substantiallyconform to the contour of the 'wearers wrist.

The two plates 7 and 8 are tapered off or narrowed at one end and thisend of the topplate 8 is slotted laterally at 10 to form a cross-bar 12.The bottom-plate 7 has its narrowed end bent or curled around at andlooped through the slot 10 to adapt it to serve as a hinge-jointpivoting on the crossbar 12.

At the opposite end of the bottom-plate 7 are two cars 16 bent up fromits sides and adapted to receive a cross-pin 17. The crosspin 17 servesas a means for fixedly attaching the end of the strap-section 4 a usualform of end-member 18 being employed for this purpose. As shown in Figs.3 to 5 the end-member 18 may comprise a sheet-metal strip folded aroundthe terminal portion of the strap-length 4 and having a hook or hooks 19bent around the cross-pin 17.

The free end of the top-plate 8 carries an adjustable attaching-means orclasp 20 for connecting it with the end of the other strapsection 5. Theclasp 20 comprises an armate-shaped panel or top-plate having downturnedlateral flanges 22 adapted to enclose the sides of the underlyingtop-plate 8. The

clasp 20 is pivotally connected to the end of.

the foldable member or top -plate 8 by means of projections or pintles23 formed integral with the plate and engagin through holes 24 in theside-flanges 22 of t e clasp,

Pivoted between the side-flanges 22 of the clasp 20 at the opposite endthereof is a clamping-member 25 for securing the end of the strap-length5 to the clasp. The clamping-member 25 comprises a relatively flat plateformed with projections or trunnions 26 at one end which engage throughholes 27 in the side-flanges 22 of the clasp 20. The pivoted end of theclamp 25 is provided with a lip or jaw 28 bent down at substantiallyright-angles to its main portion and preferably serrated or formed withteeth 29 on its under side. This serrated or toothed jaw 28 is adaptedto bind against the end of the strap-length 5 when the latter is slidinto place beneath it and the clamp 25 rocked into the positionillustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. In this way the jaw of the clamp 25cams against the end of the strap-length to hold it securely in placebeneath the top' of the clasp 20, and preferably a tongue 20 projectsforwardly from the hinged end of the clamp in position to permit thefingernail to be inserted thereunder whereby to lift the clamp torelease its jaw from the strap.

Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates the three hinged .members 7, 8 and 20as stretched out in extended'relation and when the parts are closedtogether as shown in Fig. 3 the clasp 20 will fold back into over lyingposition with respect to the plate 8 with its flanges 22 overlying theedges thereof. It will be noted that the top of the" clasp 20 isslightly beveled along its sides as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 to enhanceits ornamental appearance and at its forward end is a curved lip ortongue 34 to provide for convenience in lifting the catch to open thedevice by insertin the fin er-nail thereunder. The top-mem er 8 is rouht down against the bottom of the mem er 7 to stretch the strap aroundthe wrist and the two members or plates 7 and 8 are held in closedrelation by means of an improved detent-catch as next described.

Referring to Figs. 3m 5, the plate 7 carries a detent-catch 31preferably formed integral therewith by shearing away a strip of themetal which is bent outwardly and curved over as illustrated mostclearly in Fig. 4. The top-plate 8 is formed with a longitudinal slot oraperture 32 extendin approximately two-thirds of its length an having asquare end 33, see Fig. 4, adapted to snap across and engage with thecurved lip or detent-catch 31 when the parts are closed together asillustrated in Fig. 3. The purpose of slitting or slotting the plate ormember 8 throughout the greater portion of its length is to provide abifurcated structure which renders the plate more resilient or yieldingto adapt it to lengthen out as the end of the aperture snaps over thedetentcatch 31. When in open relation the topplate 8 is bowed or curvedto a somewhat greater extent than the bottom-plate 7 so that after it isfolded into overlying relation with the bottom-plate pressure must beexerted on its convex or upper face to cause it to conform thereto. Suchpressure causes the plate 8 to lengthen out whereby the end 33 of itsslot or aperture 32 will snap over the curved catch 31 and then engagesecurely therewith.-

The' complete device operates as follows: The strap, band or bracelet isapplied to the watch 2 by attaching the ends of the strap-lengths 4 and5 to its bails 3. The presentimproved fastening-device is permanentlyattached to the end of the stra length 4 by means of the connector or enmember 18 in the manner as previously explained. To attach the watch tothe wrist the'strap-lengths are placed therearound and the free end ofthe section 5 passed in under the jaw 28 of the clamp 25 after thelatter has been swung into open position. The strap is then adjusted tothe proper length and the clamp 25 closed down to securely hold the endof the strap against the top of the clasp 20 in the manner as shown inFigs. 3 and 4. The adjustment in the len th of the strap is made bytrial with the astening-device folded into closed relation in order tosecure the proper fit. After this adjustment has once been made,however, the ends of the two strap-lengths need never be. disconnectedunless'it becomes necessary to change the length of the strap due tostretch therein. .After the adjustment has been completed the members 7and 8 are folded together by swinging them into the position illustratedin Fig. 4, and finally closing thetop-member 8 down against thebottom-plate 7. After the parts are closed in this relation a slightpressure on the top of theclasp 20 will cause the top-plate 8 to flexalong its bifurcated portion whereby it is lengthened out to a slightextent so that the end 33 of the slot 32 will snap over the rounded sideof the detent-catch 31. Thereupon-the resiliency or spring tension ofthe top-plate 8 will cause it to maintain the catch 31 in secureengagement with the end of the slot 32 so that the parts cannot springopen or become accidently released.

\Vhen it is desired to remove the watch from the wrist it is onlynecessary to insert the finger-nail under the tongue 34 on the clasp 20whereby to lift the top-plate 8 to release it from the detent-catch 31.The parts can then be opened into extended relation as illustrated inFig. 5 so that the band or bracelet may be slipped off over the handwithout unfastening its ends.

It will be observed that the present improvement provides an extremelysimple and eihcient device for the purpose specified with the partsconstructed from stampings to render them economical to manufacture.

The improved construction of the detent means for locking the twofolding plates in closed relation provides the utmost simplicity withoutthe use of extraneous parts while rendering the whole device more secureand efiicient in action to prevent unwarranted release of the strap orbracelet. Another feature of the invention consists in the improvedclasping-means for attaching the adjustable strap-len th which may beused with any type 0 strap either leather or metal. Moreover, thearrangement of this more convenient to operate in opening and closingthe folding members.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of thedevice it is obvious that various modifications may be made in thestructure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in thisrespect,

I claim:

1. In a device of the type specified, the

combination of arcuate-shaped members hinged together to adapt them tofold into overlying relation, one of said members hav-- ing alongitudinal slot dividing it into resilient spring portions, adetent-projection -on the other member adapted to be inserted throughthe slot in the first member when the latter is flexed to extend itslength whereby it will snap over the edge' of the slot to secure themembers in closed relation,

and means for attaching the ends of straplengths to the free ends of themembers.

2. In a device of the type specified, the combination of twoarcuate-shaped members hinged together to adapt them to be folded intooverlying relation, one of said members having a greater curvature thanthat of the other member, an 'aperture in one member dividing it intobifurcated form to provide opposite resilient spring arms, a curveddetent-projection on the other member adapted to enter through the slotin the bifurcated member to snap over its edge to secure the members infolded relation, and means for attaching the ends of strap-lengths ,tothe free ends of both members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN.

